Hands firmly placed on the paperwork in front of her, Bridget Mearns laughs lightly when describing her childhood. Where did you grow up is a loaded question for the deputy mayor of Lethbridge to answer.
“That is actually a very long and very interesting story I think, “ said Mearns in her bright office within city hall. Surrounded by photographs she took herself, it’s obvious that this statuesque woman likes to try her hand at just about anything.
Mearns grew up in Lethbridge until the of age seven when her family decided to trade in land locked Alberta for a 42-foot sailboat with her two older sisters and parents. Getting an education via correspondence and sailing around the Caribbean is certainly an incredible experience according to Mearns who said it helped shape the woman she is today.
“Although I was young, I think it formulated me to understand the differences and complexities that exist in our world.”
Lisa Lambert has known Mearns for over 30 years, having met in school. When asked how Lambert would describe her friend, gorgeous and photogenic are the first words followed in quick succession by fiercely loyal and incredibly hard working. Even though they may not always think along the same lines, Lambert describes her friend as open minded and well informed.
“We have disagreements, never huge personal disagreements but politically, we’re different. We’ll discuss some topic like recall legislation and have some big deep conversation about it and be able to walk away realizing that we don’t agree with the other person but feeling really good about it still.”
As a colleague, Mayor Chris Spearman who defeated Mearns in the 2013 municipal election, speaks to her respectful demeanour and work ethic. When Mearns was elected to council in the 2014 by-election, which occurred due to the unexpected death of Wade Galloway, Spearman had this to say about his colleague.
“I respect councilor Mearns and the other councilors. I think we have to work together in an atmosphere of mutual respects. Sometimes we disagree with each other and it’s important to have diverse views on council.”
Mearns is the development coordinator at Exhibition Park, she sits on the Alberta Strategic Tourism Council, a committee member of the Chamber of Commerce and is also tackling her masters of business administration from Royal Roads University.
At home, it appears as if her schedule is just as busy as she curls once a week, trains for triathlons and marathons and loves spending quality time with her husband Kirk.
Lambert speaks to how dedicated and how respectful her friends are of each other. Although they don’t have children of their own, Lambert describes Mearns’ maternal instinct is strong and unfailing. When Lambert was completing her masters and her father’s health was ailing, her friend came to the rescue, without hesitation.
“Bridget stepped in and said, I will pick your kids up from school, I will take care of them and at least once a week she would take them to swimming, out walking, to her house. She was seriously committed, it was so sweet.”
Reflecting on her time in office, Mearns says she has a to-do list before her time comes to a close at council. Passion projects or promises she’s made to her constituents and colleagues. Mearns is leaving the door of possibility open when considering another term on council.
